Improvement in self-cocking revolving fire-arms



3 Sheets-#Sheet l MERSHON & HOLLINGSWORTH Revolver.

No.439, 825. Patented'Sept. 8, |863.

al 1111/ S Q3 8 Sheets-Sheet 2. MERSHON `& HOLLINGSWORTH Revolver.

No. 39.825.v v Patented Sept. 8 1863 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. MERSHUN L l HOLLINGSWORTH.

Revolver.

Patented Sept. 8, 1863.

UN rreu STATES PATENTH Urraca.

RALPH s. MuH-sHON, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AND .IE'HU HOLLINGSWORTH, ou ZANESVILLE, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN SELF-COOKING REVOLVING FiREfARMS.

Specilication forming part of Letters Patent N0. 39,825, dated September S, 1863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, RALPH S. MEusHON, ofPh ladelphia, Pennsylvania, and JEHU HOL- LINGSWORTH, of Zanesville, Ollio, have invented an Improvement in Self-(locking Revolving Fire-Arms, of which the following is a specification. l

The nature of our invention consists in applying to repeating and revolving` lire-arms a reservoir of power and mechanism that is capable of being operated or suspended, so that the arm to which itis attached may be worked at the option ofthe user as a hand-cooking or a self-cooking arm in the following manner:

First. By applying a reservoir of power to a repeating or revolving tire-arm, so t hat when the vreservoir ofV power is replenished an arm can be discharged by a slight pull of the trigger, and can be instantly cocked and its cylinder rotated ready for another discharge by mereJy letting go the trigger; and this cocking and discharging the arm may be continucd until all the chambers are discharged as rapidly as the trigger can be pulled and released. No other manipulation heilig required than the simple one of pulling and letting go the trigger, the hand is not required to cock the hammer or rotate the chambers, for the reservoir of power being replenished it performs this office ofitself, as it is periodically released by letting go the trigger after its pull to discharge the arm.v

Second. After the arm is discharged by pulling the trigger, and when the trigger is released or let go, the reservoir of power (being liberated by letting go the trigger.) rst cocks the hammer, which liberates, rotates, and locks the cylinder, instantly making the arm ready for another discharge. The self-actin g mechanism remains at rest after the arm is cocked and during the time the trigger is being pulled and the arm discharged. Uonsequcntly the reservoir of power does not interfere with the aim by its action or motion in any way whatever.

Third. .To pull the trigger in this arm re` quires no greater effort than in any arm cocked by hand,nor does the trigger require any longer sweep. Hence it-admits of an accurate aim, not subject to be defeated or disturbed by a violent muscular exertion in pullingthe trigger. Inthis yeryimportant particular consists its great superiority over all other self-cooking arms, all of them requiring so much muscular ett'ort in pulling the trigger as to wholly defeat or disturb the aim and object'of an arm, except at very close quarters.

Fourth. This arm can be used as a handcocliing weapon by suspending its self-acting ability in the following way: When the reservoir is `exhausted its selfacting mechanism is suspended by a seltacting'spring-bolt without any manipulation of the operator, and it becomes a hand-cocking arm also, when the reservoir of power is wound up, its seltacting mechanism is suspended by the same selfacting spring-bolt, and it becomes a hand-cocking arm, thus permitting to be carried always as a hand-cooking arm; but when an emergency arises requiring rapid shooting and a change from the comparatively slow handoocking plan to the rapid self-cooking one its seltcocking ability is instantly brought into activity by simply withdrawing the seltacting spring-bolt which has suspendedit. It then becomes instantly ready to be discharged for one or more shots as rapidly as the trigger can be pulled.

The foregoing constitute the advantages claimed by the inventors.

lo enable others skilled in the art to construct our arm, We proceed to describe it more t`ully,rel'erence being made to the annexeddrawings.

.[n the drawings, Figure l represents the arm complete; Figs. 2 and 3, the right and left sides of the lock-frame of the same having portions of the said frame removed in order to show the internal parts more fully. Fig. 4 represents a section ofthe arm in the region of the reservoir spring box and hammer, showing the location and arrangement of the reservoir spring-arbor, the escapement-wheel'and the winding-disk. Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 represent different views of the winding-disk5 and Fig. 9, the cheek or side ofthe look-frame, upon which is shown the location otl the stop-work for regulating or limiting the number of turns or revolutions to be given in compressing or replenishing the reservoir of power. Fig. 10 represents a view of the lower side ot' the lockframe, and the location and distribution of some of the parts comprising the lock. Fig.

l1 shows the operation ot the hammer-spring, and Fig. 12 another arrangement of the parts. In describing the drawings like letters in each W-ill be used to denote similar parts.

^ Let A A, Fig. 2, represent the hammer; B, the escape-Wheel; C, the trigger; D, the hammer-dog; E, the chamber-bolt; F, 'the hammer-spring; G, the arbor, upon which the hammer is movable, and aroundwhich a spring is wound that has sufficient strength to operate the arm-1'. e., to cock the hammer, liberate, rotate, and look the chambered cylinder Y Y before cach?djschargghinstead of cooking and rotating the same by hand. This coiledspring R, Fig. 19, constitutes the reservoir of power, and is compressed or .Wound up bymeans oi' a winding-disk, H, Fig. 4, that is fitted tothe square g, formed on the end of the arbor G, Fig. 4.

The escape-wheel B, Fig. 4, is permanently attached to the arbor G, so that in the act of Wind-ing it rotates with said arbor', and in the socket of the hammer A A, Fig. 2, (suidl hammer remaining stationary,) and for thc time becomes a ratchet-wheel, and the hammer-dog D, Fig. 2, its pawl. Now, suppose the reservoir of power to have been compressed, on letting go the Winding-disk the reservoir is free to act, and the arbor G and its ratchet B, Fig. 2, instantly rotate, carrying with them the hammer-dog D and the hammer Alto the position shown in Figli. At the same time the cam a., Fig. 2, comes in contact with the chamber-bolt E, lifting it and liberating the chambers, which are rotated by means of the rotating-finger J, Fig. 3. This movement brings the tail ofthe hammer-dog D, Fig. 2, between the points'of the fork of the trigger C- at c c, Fig. 2, and the back or body ot' the hammer to rest firmly on the frame of the arm, as shown in Fig. 11.

To release the hammer pull the trigger C, Fig. 2.` This will bring the point c' in front of the scape-wheel tooth b, preventing it from rotating. At the same time the point c, pressing upon the tail of the hammerdog, will lift said dog from the tooth b of the scape wheel B, and the hammer will fall. Then release or let go the trigger. This Will liberate the scape-Wheel, which will instantly rotate. Its next tooth Will meet the hammerdog D (said dog being held in position by the little spring d, Fig. 3) and carry it and the hammer back to the position it occupied -before pulling thetrigger. This operation may be repeated as rapidly as the trigger can be pulled and let go, the cocking of the hammer and rotating the chambers being simultaneous.

As most repeating-arms have but'one cylinder, We think it proper to limit the action of the reservoir to one revolution, because, if it did more, it might through forgeti'ulness become exhausted before a second series of charges could be red from the chambers. We have therefore made a sin gle' revolution ofthe winding-disk equivalent to one revolution of the chambered cylinder. To do this we have circularslot in said cheek. Thiszfriction-colf lar moves with sufficient freedom to admit of its being pushed from one' side to the other of said slot with a slight pressure.

Fig. 6G represents the reverse of the windingdisk. The square pin l, near the circumference of said figure, corresponds with the pin k in the friction-collar K, Fig. 9, and in the act of turning saidvvinding-disk comes in contact with said pin It and moves it forward in the circular slot. By a careful fitting of said pin k to the slot We obtain one exact revolution of the Windingdisk and no more. It is obvious that on the return ofsaid Winding-disk exactly the reverse of the motion just described will occur and one complete revolution be obtained. Said disk is further provided with a self-acting spring-bolt, m m, Figs. 5 and 6, which at the completion of each revolution ofv said disk enters the correspending notch, on, Fig. 9, rendering said disk for the timepermanent, and consequently holding the arbor and scape-Wheel fixed. Now, if by the hand the hammer be drawn backward, it will carry the dog D, Fig. 2, with it and over the points ofthe teeth b of the scape- Wheel B, Where it will, on removing the. hand, stand cocked, the effect being similar to cocking an ordinary arm. Said dog D being brought into the same relation to the trigger C as alreadydescribed, a simple pull of the trigger will liberate the hammer, While the scaper-W-heel, being bolted, as already described,will remain fixed, and the arm may be worked at pleasure as a hand-cooking weapon. Let us suppose now, that with the right hand We lift that portion of the winding-disk that is represented as hingedin Figs. 4, 5,6, 7,8 to the positionshown in Fig. 4.l vWith the left hand take hold of the arm, in the region of the hammer, in such a Way as to prevent the hammer from having any motion whatever, draw the spring-bolt m from its corresponding notch With the third finger ofthe right hand,and turn,by means of the semicircularlever H, Fig. 4, the winding-disk toward us. Let us make an entire revolution, which Will bring the spring-bolt m again in the notch, and, although the reservoir is compressed by this m'vement, still the arm may be used as a hand-cocking weapon. But press firmly upon the spring-bolt pusher lm', and mark what follows. Instantly the scape-wheel rotates, carrying the hammer to a yfull-cock, liberating, rotating, and locking the chambered cylinder,

tion ofthe stlf-cockinginechanism is suspended by the spring-bolt m slipping into its corresponding notch, whereby the disk, arbor, and scape wheel are lield,as already described, and the arm becomes again ahand-cocking weapon. Should the ability ofthe reservoir become accidentally suspended in consequence of the breaking of the coiled springs, or from any Y cause, the arm remains equal in effectiveness to the best of its kind known, provided the winding-disk bebolted, as already described,

being thereby reduced to a hand-cooking arm.

Fig. 12 shows another plan of arranging the infernal parts ofthe lock portions of the arm without removing either ofthe sides or cheeks of the lock. rlhe figure represents a section similar to that described already in Fig. 4, and the difference in the arrangement and construction of the parts in each, the amount of space occupied, and the distribution of the several pieces upon the arbor G. In this figure said larbor is represented as being furnished with two squares, one,g, is intended to receive the winding-disk, the other, g', to receive'the scapewheel, bothl of which are more clearly shown in Figs. 13 and 14. v

Figs. 11,15,16, 17, and 18 represent respectively the application, the mode of attaching, and operation ofthe hammer-spring.

Fig. 1l shows the hainmerat full-cock and its spring at the greatest compression.

The said spring is attached to the hammer either by means of an eye formed in its upper end, and corresponding to a similar part in the hammer, as shown in Figs. 18 and 2 and 3, hav-` ing a small pin to pass through said eye, forming a pivot or connection for it; or said spring may be constructed in the manner and of thc shape of that shown in Fig. 17, having instead of an cye a T-shaped termination at its upper end. The arms of the said T are to be introduced into the slit or openingp at the heel of said hammer, Fig. 15, and from that into the eye O, which becomes a socket for the arms to play in during the action of the hammer, without any liability of slipping from the slit p. This shape makes the spring easier to attach, and allows a freer motion than the mode first described.

Fig. 16 shows the rear of the hammer and the opening in which the neck of the spring plays. When the hammer is atv full-cock, as shown in Fig. 1l, a line drawn from the center of its axis to the lower end of the hammerspring will be found to pass very near the eye or socket O. In other words, when the hammer stands at full-cock the power of its spring is exerted in nearly a direct line to the center, and hence almost inactive, having barely sufficient leverage to start the hammer forward at the moment of its release; lint as the hammer goes down the effective power ot' the spring increases, becanse the point. o, Fig ll, becomes o', and the lever whereby the spring propels the hammer is increased from less than onefourth inch to a length equal to the radius o n at least six times, and although thie elastic force of the springl is much diminished its effective propelling or striking force is greater than at the start. We believe this is a novel, simple, and useful application ot' a spring to the hammer ot' a tireirn'. It enables us to use a light spring, insures greater activity, and continnally-increasing propelling force, and is exceedingly simple of construction. ilu nearly all other arms the action of the hammerspring' is the reverse ot' this. WVhen we begin to lift the hammer' from the nipple we hind much less muscular exertion necessary; but as the hammer is elevated the spring becomes stronger, and before reaching the full-cock the power required to overcome it. must be more than doubled. As soon therefore as the hainmer is released it starts forward with great propelling i'orce, but at the instant ot' percusysion is very much diminished in effective force, and although an exceedingly strong spring is used, the blow of the hammer we believe to be disproportionate; besides, a heavy spring subjected to great compression is much more liableto break than a light one constructed and operating like ours.

Fig. 20 shows a mode of const rncting an arm to which the reservoir of power may be applied in which metallic cartridges are used. Let A A A represent the hammer; S S S S S, a section of the frame ot' the arm into which the barrel is screwed and permanent instead of movable, as shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3. Let Y Y represent a section of the cham bered cylinder, which is fitted to said frame, having a square hole through its center, to which istitted the square spindlel T T. Said cylinder is intended to revolve with said spindle, the square portion olI it performing the office ot'carrier. The spilldle is supported at the front ot the frame by passing through a round hole the corresponding portion of the spindle 1J, titting the saine so as to admit its turning freely in it, and in the rear by entering a square hole or socket in the'toothed disk W W WV, said d sk being movable in said frame. ln the actot' cooking the hammer the rotating-linger J is brought. to operatc upon one of the teeth ot' the disk W W W, turning it in its bearing, together with the cylinder Y Y and the spindleT-T. To remove the cylinder withdraw the spindle T T from the toothed disk W W Wand from the frame S S S S S. This construction admits ofthe frame of the arm being one piece, and prevents the working portions from becoming dirty from powder, smoke, &c., because they are all confined within the lock-frame and in the rear of the chambered cylinder. The reservoirv of power is especially applicable to all kinds of Vby letter Z in Figs. 21 and 22.)

repeating or revolving tire-arms in which metallic cartridges or fixed ammunition is used, Whether pistols, carbines, rifles, or shot-guns.

Sportsmen greatly preferan ordinary doubleharreled gun to one ol' the repeating or revolving kind that requires cooking by hand before each discharge, for` the reason that the ham mers'of both barrels may be cocked and ready to discharge as rapidly as two triggers can be pull d, which insures them two shots without removing the piece from the shoulder or disturbing thegeneral line of sight, whilewith an ordinary rel'ieatingfgun they could have but one, because after each discharge the piece must come down from position, be cocked, and releveled before it can be again fired. But an arm that possesses the ability to perform the office of cooking the hammer, liberate, rotate, and lock the chambered cylinder without requiring any other manipulation than the simple one of letting go the trigger alter it has been pulled to discharge the arm must bev vastly superior to all arms that require the Working to be done by the hand.

In arranging the several pieces on the arbor, as herein described, it may be desirable to place the hammer at the outside of the lock and the reservoir of power in the center for the purpose of gaining some space or making a more symmetricalappearance. Thisarrangementis substantially the same, and does not affect the general principleand operation of the arm, being merely an equivalent.

In loading and capping the chambers when they are not removed from the frame it is necessary to elevate the hammer sufficiently to liberate the chambers so they may be rotated by hand in order to cap and load each in its turn; or this may be effected by a movable hook placed on the outside of the lock-frame, which can be inserted into-a corresponding hole cut in the side ofthe hammer.. (See location and arrangement of said hook, designated The hole in the side of the hammer, which corresponds to said hook Z, is designated by u in Fig. 2l.

. This hook is shown in Figs. 2l and 22 in red ink.

Figs. 23 to 32, inclusive, in Plate 3, representf a complete working-drawingof a sectional view of an arm, the arrangement of the lock of which is shown in Figs. 10 and 12, lPlate l, the object being above set forth in the reference to said figures.

Having, as we believe, fully described our invention, what we claim as new therein, and for which we are desirous of obtaining Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The application of a reservoir of power to a repeating fire-arm, as described herein, for the purpose of cocking the hammer, and by it liberating, rotating, and locking the chatnbered cylinder simultaneously for one or more discharges without using the hand to cock the arm, as in the ordinary way.

2; So combining the reseryoir of power with the hammer and its independent spring, as herein described, that the action of the reservoir of power can be instantly-suspended and the hammer cocked, chambered cylinder liberated, rotated, and locked by hand, as in ordinary hand-cooking revolving fire-arms.

3. The axis (shaft br spindle) on which is placed the arbor for the coiled spring.. the scape-Wheel, the hammer, the stop-work, and the winding-disk, as herein described, in combination ywith the reservoir of power or coiled spring acting as a spindle or bearer for each piece.

4. The combination of the reservoir of power with an arbor, scape -wheel, hammer, hammer-dog, hammer-finger, chamber-lock, chambered cylinder, and trigger, as herein described, so that when the reservoir of power is wound upI by pulling the trigger the hammer will be liberated and the arm discharged, and then by simply letting go the trigger the hammer will be instantly cocked, chambered cylinder liberated, rotated, and locked, ready for another discharge.

5. The combination of the reservoir of power with the stop-work, as herein described, for thepurpose oflimiting the powerand action of the reservoir of power.

6. The combination of the reservoir ofpower with the winding-disk, as herein described.for

the purpose of accumulating power by winding up said reservoir of power.

7. rThe combination of the reservoir of power with the lwinding-disk and bolt, substantially as described, for the purpose of suspending the action of the reservoir of power, so that the arm can be operated by hand.

8. The combination of the trigger and its two,. arms or forks with the scape-wheel, and also with the hammer-dog, as herein described, so that when the trigger is pulled one of the arms will liberate thehaminer-dog and hammer and permit the arm to be discharged, and

.at the same time its other arm will be entering into a scape-wheel tooth or notch, thus holding at rest the scape-wheel and reservoir of power,the arm or fork which hasbeen holding the scape-wheel and reservoir of power at rest being withdrawn by releasing or letting go the-trigger, the reservoir of power and scape-wheel will become free to act, and will by means of the hammer-dog rotate and cock the hammer, and by it liberate, turn, and lock the chambered cylinder in its place, read yfor another discharge.

9. Theapplication of the self-cooking mechanism herein described to all chambered cylinders in which metallic cartridges'are used.

RALPH S. MERSHON.- JEHU HOLLINGSWORTH.

Witnesses y EUG. H. MUNDAY,

E. G. PUTNAM. 

